As of June 2025, according to a report by the Pew Research Center, Christianity continues to be the most widespread religion in the world, but its share of the population is gradually declining. The second place is occupied by adherents of Islam, and the third line is occupied by people who do not belong to any particular religion.
Some countries and the major religions in them:
- U.S.. The largest Christian community is 217 million people, representing 64% of the country's population or 9.6% of the total number of Christians in the world.
- Russia. According to the VTsIOM poll, in 2025, 67% Russians identify themselves as Orthodox, 7% profess Islam, and 1% profess Buddhism.
- Sub-Saharan Africa. Leading the region with the largest number of Christians: 30.7% of all Christians in the world, compared to 22.3% in Europe.
Some regions where certain religions are predominant:
- Europe. Predominantly Christian (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants).
- Middle East. The Center of Islam.
- South and South-East Asia. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam predominate.
- America. Christianity predominates (Catholicism is widespread in Latin America due to its colonization by Spain and Portugal, Protestantism is common in the United States and Canada).
- Africa. Islam predominates in the north and Christianity and traditional beliefs in the south.
Two-thirds of the world's population (63%) consider themselves religious, with levels of believers varying by region and country. The world's major religions - Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism - encompass the majority of believers.
Major religions by region
- Christianity (2.3-2.4 billion followers) dominates the:
- Africa (sub-Saharan 95.7% Christians);
- Americas (Latin America - 88%, USA - 79.5%);
- Europe (Eastern - 71%, Western - 44%);
- Russia (69.9% Orthodox).
- Islam (1.8-1.9 billion) prevails in:
- Middle East (Saudi Arabia - 100%, Morocco - 98%);
- North Africa (Algeria, Egypt - 90-95%);
- Southeast Asia (Indonesia - 82%).
- Hinduism (1.1-1.2 billion) is the major religion of India (79%) and Nepal.
- Buddhism (500 million) is distributed in:
- South-East Asia (Thailand - 94%, Myanmar, Sri Lanka);
- China (100 million followers).
Small religions and beliefs
- Judaism: about 14-15 million followers, mostly in Israel and the US.
- Sikhism: about 30 million, mostly in India (Punjab state).
- Shintoism: common in Japan.
- Taoism and Confucianism: practiced in China.
- Traditional African religions: a variety of local beliefs.
Trends
- Christianity is losing share of the world's population but remains the largest religion.
- Islam is the fastest growing religion, by 2050 it could equal Christianity in numbers.
- Atheism and lack of religious affiliation are on the rise, especially in Western Europe and East Asia.
Statistics on religiosity
- Young people are more likely to identify themselves as non-religious.
- Women are, on average, more religious than men.
- High levels of education often correlate with lower levels of religiosity.
- There is a trend towards secularization in developed countries.
Religious conflicts
- The main hotbeds of religious controversy are in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
- The influence of religion on geopolitics remains significant, especially in the context of migration crises and national identity.
Current trends
- The growth of interreligious dialog and the ecumenical movement has contributed to the strengthening of tolerance.
- Globalization promotes the mixing of cultures and religious traditions, leading to new forms of religiosity.
Thus, the religious landscape of the world reflects both historical traditions and contemporary demographic changes. The level of religiosity is closely related to socio-economic factors: poverty and low levels of education correlate with higher faith, while secularization prevails in developed countries.
Questions and answers
Which religion is the most widespread religion in the world?
- Response: Christianity remains the most widespread religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers.
In which countries is Islam the major religion?
- Response: Islam is the main religion in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, as well as in some North African countries such as Egypt and Algeria, and in Indonesia.
Where is Hinduism the predominant religion?
- Response: Hinduism is predominant in India and Nepal. India is the birthplace of Hinduism and the country with the largest number of Hindus.
What is the role of Buddhism in Asian countries?
- Response: Buddhism plays a significant role in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, as well as in parts of China, Japan, and South Korea.
Which countries have a significant number of non-religious people?
- Response: In Western European countries such as Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands, as well as in China and Japan, a significant number of people identify themselves as non-religious or atheists.
What are the major religious trends in the world?
- Response: Major trends include the rise of Islam as the fastest growing religion, the declining share of Christianity, especially in Europe, and the increasing number of people who do not identify themselves as belonging to any religion.
How does religion influence politics in different countries?
- Response: In some countries, religion plays a key role in politics and legislation, especially in countries with theocratic systems such as Iran. In other countries, religion may exert influence through political parties and social movements.
Which countries are centers of interreligious dialogue?
- Response: Countries such as India, Singapore and Lebanon are actively promoting interfaith dialogues due to their cultural and religious diversity.
